How to Get Up Wakesurfing: Beginner Tutorial
Getting up wakesurfing for the first time can feel intimidating, but with the right technique, you'll be surfing the wake in no time. Whether you've never tried board sports or you're transitioning from wakeboarding, learning proper body position and form is key to your success.
In this beginner wakesurfing guide, Tige pro wakesurfer Dominic Lagace demonstrates how to get up on a wakesurf board, stay in the pocket behind the boat, and eventually drop the tow rope to surf ropeless. Follow these step-by-step instructions to build a strong foundation for more advanced tricks.
Choosing Your Wakesurfing Stance: Regular vs. Goofy Foot
Before you get in the water, you need to determine which foot will be your lead foot. In wakesurfing, your stance is either "regular" (left foot forward) or "goofy" (right foot forward). There's no right or wrong choice—it's simply about what feels most natural and balanced for you.
How to Find Your Natural Stance
If you've wakeboarded, snowboarded, skateboarded, or surfed before, you'll likely use the same stance for wakesurfing. If you're completely new to board sports, try these simple tests:
The Slide Test: Have someone gently push you forward from behind. Whichever foot you naturally step forward with to catch yourself is likely your lead foot.
The Stair Test: Walk up to a staircase naturally. The foot you instinctively use to take the first step is often your lead foot.
The Kick Test: Imagine kicking a ball. Your kicking foot is typically your back foot, making the other your lead foot.
Most people are regular stance (left foot forward), but about 30% of riders are goofy. Once you determine your stance, you'll set up your board with your lead foot toward the nose and your back foot toward the tail. Don't worry if you're not sure at first—you can always try both during your first few sessions to see which feels more comfortable.
Choosing the Right Wakesurf Board for Beginners
The type of wakesurf board you ride makes a huge difference in how quickly you'll progress. As a beginner, you want a board that's stable, forgiving, and easy to control while you're learning the basics.
Best Board Type for Learning: Surf-Style Boards
Surf-style wakesurf boards are ideal for first-timers. These boards are typically larger with more volume, which provides better stability and makes it easier to get up and stay balanced.
Board Size Matters
Bigger boards are more forgiving for beginners. A larger surface area gives you a more stable platform to work with as you develop your balance and weight distribution skills. As you advance and want to do more tricks or aggressive carving, you can size down, but when you're starting out, go bigger.
Avoid Skim-Style Boards (For Now)
Skim-style boards are smaller, faster, and designed for advanced riders who want to do spins, shuvits, and technical tricks. They're less stable and require more precise control—not ideal when you're still figuring out how to drop the rope. Save these for after you've built confidence on a surf-style board.
Key Features to Look For:
Larger size for maximum stability
Wider nose and tail for better balance
Thicker profile for more float and easier pop-ups
Soft, forgiving rails that are less catchy in the water
Once you're comfortable riding ropeless and staying in the pocket consistently, you can explore different board styles to match your riding preferences and progress toward more advanced wakesurfing techniques.
Getting Up and Riding: Proper Body Position for Wakesurfing
Starting Position in the Water
Before the boat starts moving, you'll float in the water wearing a Coast Guard-approved life jacket with the tow rope in hand. Position your wakesurf board perpendicular to the boat with your toes pointed upward. Keep your arms straight with both hands gripping the handle at chest level, and place your feet shoulder-width apart with your heels pressed firmly against the traction pad.
Pro tip: Have your driver add some very light tension to the rope before accelerating. This small amount of tension helps stabilize you in the water and makes it easier to maintain proper body position as you prepare to get up.
The Pull-Up: Let the Boat Do the Work
When you're ready, give your driver the thumbs up to put the boat in gear and push down hard on your heels. As the boat begins moving slowly through the water, you'll feel the board press flat against your feet. Your arches should align over the centerline of the board with your toes turned slightly outward.
As the rope pulls you forward, let yourself sink into a squat position, keeping your back straight—don't bend forward at the waist. Your heels will naturally slide up against your lower body as you compress into this athletic stance. This is the key: let the boat pull you up rather than trying to muscle your way to standing.
Standing Up on the Wakesurf Board
Stay in your squat position as the boat accelerates and you begin to plane on the water's surface. Once you're gliding smoothly on top of the water, gradually stand up in a controlled motion. You'll start outside the surf wake on the side of your lead foot (your front foot). From here, you're ready to work your way into the wave's sweet spot.
If your boat is equipped with a side tow point (standard on Tige Boats), you'll notice it helps keep you out of the whitewash and naturally guides you toward the wave's sweet spot, making it easier to find your ideal surfing position.
Staying in the Wake: Finding and Riding the Sweet Spot
Once you're up and riding, the next challenge is learning how to stay in the wave's pocket—that perfect zone where the wave pushes you forward with minimal effort. Staying in the wake is all about body position and weight distribution.
Controlling Your Position on the Wave
Think of your feet as your gas and brake pedals:
To accelerate and move closer to the boat: Drive the board forward by leaning your lead hip toward the boat and shifting more weight over your front foot. This pressure on your front foot pushes you up the wave.
To slow down and drift back: Lean back on your rear foot, transferring weight to your back foot. This acts as your brake, letting you slide back down the wave if you're getting too close to the boat.
Finding Your Balance
The key to staying in the sweet spot is making small, constant adjustments with your weight. Keep your knees slightly bent in an athletic stance—this gives you better control and helps you respond to the wave's movement. Wakesurfing is dynamic, so stay loose and let the wave do the work.
Dropping the Rope: Transitioning to Ropeless Wakesurfing
The ultimate goal of wakesurfing is riding without the rope, but don't rush this step. Holding the surf rope while you're learning helps keep you positioned correctly as you figure out how to use the wave's energy to stay in the pocket.
How to Know When You're Ready
You'll know you've found the sweet spot when the rope consistently has slack—meaning the wave is pushing you forward and you're no longer relying on the rope for momentum. This is your signal that you're ready to let go.
Letting Go of the Rope
When you feel comfortable and the rope has consistent slack, gently toss the handle toward the swim platform or to the opposite side of the wake. Your spotter should pull it into the boat immediately to keep it away from the propeller.
Congratulations—you're now surfing ropeless! From here, you can focus on riding the wave, improving your positioning.